Thursday, July 28, 2016

The Takara 1/144 Scale Rescue Mecha Collection Transmitter Truck!

Back in 2004, Takara produced a series of Thunderbirds pod vehicle sets called the 1/144 Scale Rescue Mecha Collection. These highly detailed models are somewhat rare now. I managed to find two sets on Ebay at an amazing price. The first model I want to feature is the International Rescue Transmitter Truck. This vehicle only featured in the episode, Sunprobe. In the episode it was used in conjunction with Thunderbird 3 to broadcast a an override signal to a crippled spacecraft that was on a collision course with the Sun. It ended up saving Thunderbird 3 when it, too, couldn't pull away from the Sun.
The model has an amazing amount of detail. It has also been dirtied down in a way that would make Derek Meddings proud. The undercarriage on this model can be detached and replaced with a motorized version (sold in a separate set I don't yet have) that will run the tracks and rotate the antenna via radio control. As a standalone model it's gorgeous, but I'll let the photos prove that point. Enjoy!